Caps Slowly Starting Off-Season

The Caps are starting the off-season with some strategic pondering about Cristobal Huet and Sergei Fedorov, both of whom they should bring back. An updated look at the Caps' roster:

Must Keep: Alex Ovechkin (signed until cows fly home 2020-21), Alex Semin (RFA after 2009-10), Nicklas Backstrom (RFA after 2009-10), Mike Green (RFA now), Brooks Laich (RFA now), Cristobal Huet (UFA now), Sergei Fedorov (UFA now) and Shaone Morrisonn (RFA now).

Positives Outweigh Negatives: Michael Nylander (UFA after 2010-11), Viktor Kozlov (UFA after next season), Tomas Fleischmann (RFA after 2009-10), Chris Clark (UFA after 2010-11), Quintin Laing (UFA after next season), Donald Brashear (UFA after next season), Boyd Gordon (RFA now), Tom Poti (UFA after 2011-12), Eric Fehr (RFA now), Dave Steckel (UFA after next season), Matt Bradley (UFA now), Jeff Schultz (RFA after next season) and Sami Lepisto (RFA after next season).

Expendable: Brian Pothier (UFA after 2009-10), Steve Eminger (RFA now), John Erskine (RFA after next season), Matt Cooke (UFA now) and Milan Jurcina (RFA after next season).

Not Enough Information: Andrew Gordon (RFA after 2009-10), Chris Bourque (RFA after next season), Simeon Varlamov (RFA after 2009-10), Darren Machesney (RFA after next season) and Karl Alzner (juniors).

The Big Question Marks: Brent Johnson (UFA after next season) and Olie Kolzig (UFA now).

This of course does not take into account the upcoming free agent class or any trade that might occur at the draft. More on that another time.

The Caps have finalized one thing -- they will pick 23rd in the upcoming draft, to be held June 20-21 at Ottawa's Scotiabank Place.

Note: Following JP's lead, RRT is now sponsoring Matt Bradley, Shaone Morrisonn and the Eastern Conference champion 1997-98 Caps over at Hockey Reference.